The answers to goonda raj of Jai Shri Ram are two fold – secularism and Krishna. First we all know, let’s talk about the second.
Krishna and Ram are both avatars of Vishnu. But Ram lends himself to caste bigotry, patriarchy and religious violence much more easily than Krishna.
Krishna is a complex, worldly and intelligent character. He goes beyond the judgemental black and white of Ram. Krishna is the master of grey. He didn’t have the arrogance of a maryada purush etc. He was an agent of change, a force that went beyond right and wrong, his view of the world was not static. Ram was wound up as any man can be. Krishna was fluid.
Krishna has more varied relationships with the women in his life. He goes beyond the north Indian masculine maa behen view of women. Draupadi was a friend, a friendship that will be considered modern even by 2020 standards.
The evils that Krishna fought against are real world evils – greed, injustice etc. Basic character flaws. There is no Mogambo style super villain, there is no super hero who has to ‘save’ his heroine. Ram is a bollywood hero. Krishna is arthouse.
That’s why, Vaishnavites had a bhakti movement. Art, culture, poetry. Ram worshippers never moved beyond macho posturing.
The answer to Ram is Krishna.
